Alsace

• Historic Alsace Wine Trail
• Charming Urban Centres
• Delicious Local Cuisine
• Picturesque Vistas

Searching for a perfect Alsace tour? Browse our range of fantastic trips below, from pleasant Strasbourg walking tours to memorable Alsace wine tours, where you can explore this world famous wine region over multiple days. This is a region famed for wine, culture, landscape and history, offering something for every visitor.

With rolling hills, mediaeval castles, perfectly preserved historic villages, world-famous vineyards and UNESCO world heritage sites, Ophorus helps you explore this magical region with our small group tours including some of the best food tours in France and classic Colmar wine tours allowing you to explore the Alsatian wine capital. There’s even a chance to explore beyond France, with our Freiburg and Black Forest tours from Strasbourg, Mulhouse or Colmar that can be done in just a day.

The Alsace region of France is located in the northeastern part of the country and is known for its beautiful countryside, rich history, and delicious cuisine. Here are some things you might want to know if you are planning a trip to Alsace:

What is Alsace known for?

Looking for an ideal French countryside tour? The Alsace region of France is known for being one of the prettiest parts of France with its beautiful, traditional villages and breathtaking landscapes made up of vineyards, valleys and mountain ranges. Alsace white wines are particularly well known especially when it comes to Grands Crus wines, sweet white wines or ice wines.

Characterized by the Vosges Mountains to the west and the Rhine River and its border with Germany to the east, the Alsace region is undoubtedly one of the most charming and uniquely distinct regions of France. Visitors can experience the Germanic influence in the architecture and distinct gastronomy, but the region itself is undoubtedly Alsatian.

Things to see: The region is home to several notable attractions, including the Alsace Wine Route, the Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle, and the Strasbourg Cathedral.

Food and drink: Alsace is known for its delicious cuisine, which includes dishes like bakeoff, choucroute garnie (sauerkraut with sausage and pork), flammekueche, tarte flambée (a type of thin-crust pizza), local pastries and Alsace wine.

How long is the Alsace wine route?

As many wine lovers know, an Alsace wine tour is a must. The legendary Alsace wine trail also known as the Alsace wine route stretches from Marlenheim to Thann and is more than 170 kms long - 106 miles.

Transportation: You can reach Alsace by train, bus, or car. The region is well-connected to the rest of France and Europe by an extensive network of roads and rail lines.

How to get to Alsace from Paris?

The easiest way to get from Paris to the Alsace region is to take the speed train TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est station and stop in Strasbourg. This will take less than two hours as the train travels at more than 300kms/hour. You can also reach Colmar easily by train.

Weather: The weather in Alsace is temperate, with cold winters and warm summers. The region can experience extremes of temperature, so it's a good idea to be prepared for both hot and cold weather if you are visiting.

Accommodation: There are many different types of accommodation available in Alsace, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals.

Day Trips in Alsace

Led by expert English-speaking tour guides, all our day trips from Colmar or Strasbourg include the most famous destinations & activities such as the Alsace wine route, the Haut Koenigsbourg castle, wine tasting sessions as well as unique biking tours such as the e-bike Alsace tour. If you´re a lover of wine, why not follow the Alsatian wine route to some of the region’s most famed vineyards nestled among rolling hills and mountains?

If you’re searching for Strasbourg tours of history and culture, why not explore the preserved mediaeval capital with us? You can even combine both experiences in one tour!

Or maybe you’re searching for a Strasbourg food tour? We have that too. Whatever option you choose, our tours delve deep into the region, offering you an insight into its history, architecture, wine, food and culture. Many travelers from the United States take part in battlefield tours that include visits to important locations where World War I and World War II took place.

We offer both exclusive private tours as well as fun & informative shared tours on a half day or full day basis. We usually suggest a full day tour as this will give you the perfect opportunity to experience the best this region has to offer. Discover the preserved beauty and cultural wealth of Alsace so different then the rest of France with one of our Ophorus tours.

What to visit in Alsace?

The area has many attractions & sites to visit in Alsace. Our private and shared day trips will take you to the most famous attractions of the area. Follow one of our small group tours to discover the Alsace wine trail including wine tastings at selected wineries.

Visit beautiful small villages such as Eguisheim, Riquewihr or Obernai. Participate in one of our guided walking tours in Colmar or Strasbourg with an accredited tour guide. In December, discover the magic of a Strasbourg Christmas market tour.

The Bas Rhin & Day Trips from Strasbourg

The Bas Rhin, of which Strasbourg is the capital, offers a great number of exciting attractions and activities to visit and partake in. Moreover, it is a fantastic departure point for many tours. The city of Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament and Council of Europe, is already a treat just by itself, with its incredible gothic cathedral and historic Petite France neighborhood dotted with mediaeval half-timbered houses.

If you follow one of our guided Strasbourg walking tours, our certified guides will take you to the most important landmarks of the city. Another great option in the city is the food & wine related activities and tours where we are happy to direct you to the best restaurants in Strasbourg.

The Alsace region is known to be one of the best when it comes to gastronomy and during our Strasbourg gourmet walking tour foie gras, wine, ginger bread and many more local specialties will be there for you to taste.

Once you have discovered the city of Strasbourg, it is time to head out and visit the most incredible sites that the Bas Rhin has to offer. The most famous of these is without a doubt the Alsace Wine Route or route des vins d’Alsace. One of the oldest in France, this wine route stretches for more than 70 kms and is lined with numerous, family-owned wineries.

The Haut Rhin & Day Trips from Colmar

The Haut Rhin, of which Colmar is the capital, also offers a great deal of unique attractions and activities. Colmar day tours are a great way of seeing one of the most exquisite towns of France, with its historic centre, grand rue, mediaeval half-timbered houses such as the “maison des tetes”, the Pfister House and small winding canals. The town also houses one of the most impressive 16th century paintings – the Issenheim Altarpiece.

The choices for day trips from Colmar are numerous. The Route du Vin is an option for all the wine lovers and we organise both private and shared wine tours departing from Colmar. The area is also dotted with traditional villages such as the medieval villages of Eguisheim, Kaysersberg or Riquewihr, which you can visit on our villages tour departing Colmar and that alone makes for a great excursion. Most of these villages have kept unique features that date back to the middle ages.

With the Vosges Mountains located just a short drive away, a tour to that area is synonymous to local gastronomy. Embark on a classic French cheese tour, in which you will taste Munster cheese alongside the most tasty local spirits and eau-de-vie. Discover the charms of the ‘route des Crêtes’ - this ridge road is a must-do if you are in the area, as it is one of the most impressive in all of France.

Rhine River Cruise Shore Excursions from Strasbourg or Breisach

If you are on a Rhine River cruise there is a high chance that you will stop over in Strasbourg, France or Breisach, Germany. All river cruise companies organise shore excursions departing from both ports of call, Ophorus offers one of the best small group and private half day or full day trip experiences in the area.

We organise a large number of excursions that can be taken from your Viking Rhine River cruise. If you are docking in Strasbourg, let us take care of your private guided walking tour of this beautiful city with one of our English-speaking licensed tour guides. Visit the most important landmarks and head towards the Petite France district to immerse yourself with the locals.

We also operate wine tasting tours in Germany's wine-producing region of the Rhine Valley, which borders the Alsace wine region. We pick up in France & Germany from both ports of call of the Viking River Cruises, located in Breisach and Strasbourg.

Our most popular optional excursions also include city tours and guided walking tours of Colmar with a licensed guide. We also offer great small group day trips to the Black Forest that include stunning landscapes and lesser-known destinations.

Moreover, if you are looking to experience unusual private experiences while on your Viking Rhine getaway, we invite you to visit the most famous Arts & Crafts centre, far from the madding crowds. We have listed the best professional artisans on both sides of the border and can take you to visit local workshops that create renowned arts & crafts. Craftsmanship on show includes Alsace high-end textiles, pottery, glassware & crystal, linen & fabrics and not forgetting the famous German cuckoo clocks.